Martin Pavelka, Ph.D.
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Martin Pavelka, Ph.D.
About Me
Faculty Appointments
Professor - Department of Microbiology and Immunology (SMD)
Credentials
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). 1994 - 1999
Education
PhD | Univ Rochester Sch Med/Dent. Microbiology. 1994
MS | Univ Rochester Sch Med/Dent. Microbiology. 1991
BS | Cleveland St University. Biology. 1988
Awards
Awardee, Â鶹ÊÓƵExcellence in Research. 2006 - 2006
Recipient of a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences. 1997
Public Heath Service NIH Predoctoral Trainee. 1990 - 1993
Graduated magna cum laude - Cleveland State University. 1988
Doretta C. Thelker Award, Cleveland State University. 1988
Research
My research expertise is in the genetics, physiology, and biochemistry of the cell envelopes of bacterial respiratory pathogens, with a special focus on the cell wall peptidoglycan.
Tuberculosis Research
1. Biosynthesis of the mycobacterial cell w...
My research expertise is in the genetics, physiology, and biochemistry of the cell envelopes of bacterial respiratory pathogens, with a special focus on the cell wall peptidoglycan.
Tuberculosis Research
1. Biosynthesis of the mycobacterial cell wall. Our current research activities focus on understanding the genetics and biochemistry of cell envelope biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related mycobacteria with the goal of identifying new targets that can be translated into the development of novel anti-tuberculosis drugs. Our studies focus on four aspects of the peptidoglycan of mycobacteria: 1) identifying the enzymes responsible for DAP-DAP cross links in the cell wall and their importance for cell survival under non-replicating conditions, 2) understanding the role of carbohydrate hydroxylation and amino acid amidation on peptidoglycan physiology, 3) understanding the function of unusual L,D-transpeptidase enzymes that may modify the cell wall, and 4) understanding the factors that contribute to antibiotic resistance in M. tuberculosis. These research activities include collaborations with Dr. Dean Crick and Dr. Sebabrata Mahapatra (Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO).
2. We are also collaborating with Dr. Scott Butler in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology here at the UR to investigate the function of toxin-antitoxin genes in M. tuberculosis and their potential role in latency in tuberculosis.
Tularemia and Biodefense Research
1. Development of genetic tools for Francisella tularensis and investigations into tularemia pathogenesis. Our early work on Francisella was to develop genetic methods to manipulate Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia and a Category A Select Agent. This work focused on developing new plasmid vectors, selectable markers, a method of allelic exchange and transposon mutagenesis, single-copy chromosomal integration systems, and protein secretion reporter systems. Future plans include the development of projects to investigate Francisella cell wall physiology and the roles that cell envelope components have in the innate immune response and tularemia pathogenesis.
Publications
Journal Articles
Miller NJ, Dimitrakopoulou D, Baglia LA, Pavelka MS, Robert J
Microorganisms.. 2024 May 3112 (6)Epub 05/31/2024.
Paiola M, Dimitrakopoulou D, Pavelka MS, Robert J
Developmental and comparative immunology.. 2023 February 139 :104594. Epub 11/18/2022.
Francis ZK, Sanders AN, Crick DC, Mahapatra S, Islam MN, Pavelka MS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2023 January 26205 (1):e0042422. Epub 12/21/2022.
Chan H, Pavelka MS, Baran TM
Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering.. 2023 12358 Epub 03/14/2023.
Lopez A, Shoen C, Cynamon M, Dimitrakopoulou D, Paiola M, Pavelka MS, Robert J
International journal of molecular sciences.. 2021 January 1522 (2)Epub 01/15/2021.
Rhoo KH, Edholm ES, Forzán MJ, Khan A, Waddle AW, Pavelka MS, Robert J
The Journal of immunology : official journal of the American Association of Immunologists.. 2019 November 15203 (10):2679-2688. Epub 10/07/2019.
Pidgeon SE, Apostolos AJ, Nelson JM, Shaku M, Rimal B, Islam MN, Crick DC, Kim SJ, Pavelka MS, Kana BD, Pires MM
ACS chemical biology.. 2019 October 1814 (10):2185-2196. Epub 09/16/2019.
Pavelka MS
Nature chemical biology.. 2019 March 15 (3):208-209. Epub 1900 01 01.
Wlodarchak N, Teachout N, Beczkiewicz J, Procknow R, Schaenzer AJ, Satyshur K, Pavelka M, Zuercher W, Drewry D, Sauer JD, Striker R
Molecular pharmaceutics.. 2018 November 515 (11):5410-5426. Epub 10/18/2018.
Edholm ES, Banach M, Hyoe Rhoo K, Pavelka MS, Robert J
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.. 2018 April 24115 (17):E4023-E4031. Epub 04/02/2018.
Gregoire SA, Byam J, Pavelka MS
Microbiology.. 2017 October 163 (10):1399-1408. Epub 1900 01 01.
Martinelli DJ, Pavelka MS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2016 May 198 (9):1464-75. Epub 04/14/2016.
Pavelka MS
Trends in microbiology.. 2015 November 23 (11):668-670. Epub 10/01/2015.
Boule LA, Winans B, Lambert K, Vorderstrasse BA, Topham DJ, Pavelka MS, Lawrence BP
American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology.. 2015 August 1309 (3):L305-13. Epub 06/12/2015.
LoVullo ED, Wright LF, Isabella V, Huntley JF, Pavelka MS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2015 May 197 (10):1705-15. Epub 03/09/2015.
Jin G, Pavelka MS, Butler JS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2015 April 197 (7):1197-207. Epub 01/26/2015.
Sanders AN, Wright LF, Pavelka MS
Microbiology.. 2014 August 160 (Pt 8):1795-1806. Epub 05/21/2014.
Pavelka MS, Mahapatra S, Crick DC
Microbiology spectrum.. 2014 August 2 (4):MGM2-0034-2013. Epub 1900 01 01.
Sanders AN, Pavelka MS
Microbiology.. 2013 September 159 (Pt 9):1842-1852. Epub 07/07/2013.
Mahapatra S, Piechota C, Gil F, Ma Y, Huang H, Scherman MS, Jones V, Pavelka MS, Moniz-Pereira J, Pimentel M, McNeil MR, Crick DC
Applied and environmental microbiology.. 2013 February 79 (3):768-73. Epub 11/16/2012.
Slayden RA, Jackson M, Zucker J, Ramirez MV, Dawson CC, Crew R, Sampson NS, Thomas ST, Jamshidi N, Sisk P, Caspi R, Crick DC, McNeil MR, Pavelka MS, Niederweis M, Siroy A, Dona V, McFadden J, Boshoff H, Lew JM
Tuberculosis.. 2013 January 93 (1):47-59. Epub 02/01/2013.
Feiler C, Fisher AC, Boock JT, Marrichi MJ, Wright L, Schmidpeter PA, Blankenfeldt W, Pavelka M, DeLisa MP
PloS one.. 2013 8 (9):e73123. Epub 09/04/2013.
LoVullo ED, Miller CN, Pavelka MS, Kawula TH
Applied and environmental microbiology.. 2012 October 78 (19):6883-9. Epub 07/20/2012.
Patru MM, Pavelka MS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2010 June 192 (12):3043-54. Epub 04/16/2010.
Lovullo ED, Molins-Schneekloth CR, Schweizer HP, Pavelka MS
Microbiology.. 2009 April 155 (Pt 4):1152-1163. Epub 1900 01 01.
Lovullo ED, Sherrill LA, Pavelka MS
FEMS microbiology letters.. 2009 February 291 (1):95-102. Epub 12/04/2008.
Pavelka MS
Methods in molecular biology.. 2008 435 :191-201. Epub 1900 01 01.
McCann JR, McDonough JA, Pavelka MS, Braunstein M
Microbiology.. 2007 October 153 (Pt 10):3350-3359. Epub 1900 01 01.
Kincaid EZ, Wolf AJ, Desvignes L, Mahapatra S, Crick DC, Brennan PJ, Pavelka MS, Ernst JD
The Journal of immunology : official journal of the American Association of Immunologists.. 2007 September 1179 (5):3187-95. Epub 1900 01 01.
Titball RW, Sjostedt A, Pavelka MS, Nano FE
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.. 2007 June 1105 :405-17. Epub 04/07/2007.
Pavelka MS
Trends in microbiology.. 2007 April 15 (4):147-9. Epub 02/28/2007.
LoVullo ED, Sherrill LA, Perez LL, Pavelka MS
Microbiology.. 2006 November 152 (Pt 11):3425-3435. Epub 1900 01 01.
McDonough JA, Hacker KE, Flores AR, Pavelka MS, Braunstein M
Journal of bacteriology.. 2005 November 187 (22):7667-79. Epub 1900 01 01.
Consaul SA, Wright LF, Mahapatra S, Crick DC, Pavelka MS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2005 March 187 (5):1612-20. Epub 1900 01 01.
Flores AR, Parsons LM, Pavelka MS
Journal of bacteriology.. 2005 March 187 (6):1892-900. Epub 1900 01 01.
Flores AR, Parsons LM, Pavelka MS
Microbiology.. 2005 February 151 (Pt 2):521-532. Epub 1900 01 01.
Raymond JB, Mahapatra S, Crick DC, Pavelka MS
The Journal of biological chemistry.. 2005 January 7280 (1):326-33. Epub 11/02/2004.
Consaul SA, Pavelka MS
FEMS microbiology letters.. 2004 May 15234 (2):297-301. Epub 1900 01 01.
Raymond JB, Price NP, Pavelka MS
FEMS microbiology letters.. 2003 December 5229 (1):83-9. Epub 1900 01 01.
Consaul SA, Jacobs WR, Pavelka MS
FEMS microbiology letters.. 2003 August 8225 (1):131-5. Epub 1900 01 01.
Pavelka MS, Chen B, Kelley CL, Collins FM, Jacobs Jr WR
Infection and immunity.. 2003 July 71 (7):4190-2. Epub 1900 01 01.
Gokulan K, Rupp B, Pavelka MS, Jacobs WR, Sacchettini JC
The Journal of biological chemistry.. 2003 May 16278 (20):18588-96. Epub 03/10/2003.
Bardarov S, Bardarov S, Pavelka MS, Sambandamurthy V, Larsen M, Tufariello J, Chan J, Hatfull G, Jacobs WR
Microbiology.. 2002 October 148 (Pt 10):3007-3017. Epub 1900 01 01.
Pavelka MS, Jacobs WR
Journal of bacteriology.. 1999 August 181 (16):4780-9. Epub 1900 01 01.
Pavelka MS, Weisbrod TR, Jacobs WR
Journal of bacteriology.. 1997 April 179 (8):2777-82. Epub 1900 01 01.
Pavelka MS, Jacobs WR
Journal of bacteriology.. 1996 November 178 (22):6496-507. Epub 1900 01 01.
Balasubramanian V, Pavelka MS, Bardarov SS, Martin J, Weisbrod TR, McAdam RA, Bloom BR, Jacobs WR
Journal of bacteriology.. 1996 January 178 (1):273-9. Epub 1900 01 01.
Pavelka MS, Hayes SF, Silver RP
The Journal of biological chemistry.. 1994 August 5269 (31):20149-58. Epub 1900 01 01.
Pavelka MS, Wright LF, Silver RP
Journal of bacteriology.. 1991 August 173 (15):4603-10. Epub 1900 01 01.
Books
Molecular Genetics of Mycobacteria (2014)
Chapter: Genetics of Peptidoglycan synthesis
Authors: M. S. Pavelka, Jr. S. Mahapatra D. C. Crick
Publisher: ASM Press 2014
Chromosomal Mutagenesis. Humana Press. (2008)
Chapter: Allelic exchange of unmarked mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Authors: Pavelka, M. S., Jr.
Publisher: In G. Davis and K. Kayser (ed.), 2008
Molecular Genetics of the mycobacteria. (2000)
Chapter: Genetics of mycobacterial metabolism.
Authors: Pavelka, M. S., Jr.
Publisher: ASM Press. 2000
Thesis: The role of kpsT in the expression of capsular polysialic acid in Escher (1994)
Authors: Pavelka, M. S., Jr., Ph.D.
Publisher: University of Rochester. 1994
Polysialic acid. (1993)
Chapter: Genetic and molecular analysis of the polysialic acid gene cluster of Escherichia coli K1.
Authors: Silver, R. P., P. Annunziato, M. S. Pavelka, Jr., R.P. Pigeon, L. F. Wright, D. E. Wunder.
Publisher: In J. Roth, U. Rutishauser, and F. A. Troy (ed.), Basel/Switzerland. 1993